Highlights From The Overland Track

If you’re thinking of hiking the Overland Track in Tasmania, you should do your research beforehand (unlike me – lesson learned!). Anticipate inclement weather and pack accordingly. And perhaps most importantly, look at the route and decide how much time you’ll need in order to complete your preferred side treks.

On that note, here’s what you can expect on a 6 day itinerary for the Overland Track with minimal side treks (though they’re noted after each day, should you be interested) —

Day 1: Ronny Creek to Waterfall Valley (10 km / 4-5 hours)

With my pack at its heaviest, I set off around midday from the Ronny Creek car park into a drizzly meadow. True to form, the weather cleared within 20 minutes and I was able to ditch my rain gear for the rest of the day.

The first day of the Overland Track is terrifically scenic! The trail makes its way past a few small waterfalls and the glacially carved Crater Lake before a steep and windy ascent to Marion’s Lookout. From here, you can enjoy a 360-degree view of the surrounding mountains, lakes, and valleys. It’s the perfect spot for a lunch break!

View of Cradle Mountain from Marion’s Lookout

The second half of this segment covers some very rocky ground around the base of Cradle Mountain and ends with seemingly endless stairs down into Waterfall Valley. I was completely knackered by this point and all but crashed upon arriving at the hut. I’m really glad I made the effort to take some photos of the night sky later on, though – I mean look at it!

Optional Side Treks:

Cradle Mountain summit (2-3 hours)

Barn Bluff summit (3-4 hours)

Note: These climbs are only worth doing on a clear day, otherwise you won’t see much from the top!

Day 2: Waterfall Valley to Windermere (8 km / 2-3 hours)

The second day of the Overland Track is all about the lakes! I got lucky with a warm and sunny day, which was even more convenient as this segment of the trail is largely out in the open air through the moorland.

Since this day is easy and almost entirely flat, the side hike to Lake Will is basically a no-brainer. You can walk closer to Barn Bluff mountain and further along the lake, where you might witness weird things like a massive tree growing smack in the middle of a sandy beach.

The end of the day’s trail segment leads into Windermere Hut, where you can relax by the lake after a day of trekking (or swim if you’re not a wuss like I am!). I opted to hang out on the hut deck with a pademelon (wallaby-like creature) and then sit out in the sun reading on a boulder nearby the trail.

Optional Side Treks:

Lake Will (1 hour)

Day 3: Windermere to Pelion (17 km / 4-6 hours)

I look back on Day 3 not-so-fondly as the day of hell. My handwritten notes have RAINY MUD MAZE scrawled across the page, accompanied by a sad face. Sounds about right!

To be fair, my negative feelings about it were almost exclusively due to the awful weather. This segment starts out through moorlands and affords some pretty fabulous views of the valley below in better conditions. But with limited visibility, all I could do was trudge on and hope the next hut wasn’t too far along.

Then, the trail enters the woods and winds its way downhill. It was dark and soggy at midday, and heavy rain had penetrated my shoddy rain jacket and rain pants (chafing for days!). Suffice it to say I bore precisely zero resemblance to a happy camper. I gingerly stepped around puddles and tree roots to minimize discomfort, eyes on the ground at virtually all times. The mud maze went on for so long that I thought I must have missed a turn at some point and, feeling defeated and slightly freaked out, turned around to retrace my muddy steps.

Thankfully I finally ran into a couple of folks who had stayed at the same hut as me the night before and they assured me I was heading in the right direction. I calmed the heck down and resolved to follow them for the remainder of the day. I finally reached the New Pelion hut limping and chafing in no less than 6 spots on my body. It’s one of the newer and larger huts, so I quite enjoyed warming up and resting there after a traumatic morning of trekking.

But! On a more pleasant day, I’m sure Day 3 of the Overland Track would be perfectly enjoyable. Really!

Optional Side Treks:

Mt. Oakleigh (4-5 hours)

Day 4: Pelion to Kia Ora (9 km / 3 hours)

Day 4 started out gray and rainy, but I was in much better spirits knowing it would be a short day on the trail. This trail segment moves through both rainforest and a valley, so it’s less maze-like than Day 3.

Had it cleared in time, I’d have done the side hike up Mt. Ossa which would have made it a fuller day of hiking; but it was overcast and drizzly when I reached the trailhead, so I carried on to the Kia Ora hut instead. It ended up clearing shortly after I passed it, go figure. The lack of rain made it slightly more bearable when we were trekking through massive mud trenches. There are hardly any platforms placed on the trail in this section, and at some points you have no choice but to step right into the deep piles of mud. What a cruel, cruel joke!

Day 5 is the day I got my groove back on the Overland Track. With the weather on my side, I set off on what was my longest day on the trail. Note: I’d have split this into two days if I were taking the ferry to Cynthia Bay rather than hiking there the following day.

There are a few side treks to some impressive waterfalls along this segment – DO THESE. You can drop your pack at the junctions to the falls and take an easy walk down. Fergusson Falls is especially impressive close-up; D’Alton less so. Hartnett requires more effort to get to because the most of the path is muddy, and then you have to find your way down a bushwhacked path that takes you right down to the water. I’d highly recommend the extra effort here because the falls are way cooler when you can get closer to them, vs. the obstructed view you get from above if you don’t bother with the bushwhacking.

Hartnett Falls

Fergusson Falls

The midway point for me on Day 5 was the newly-constructed Bert Nichols hut. I was bummed not to be able to stay overnight here, but I hung out for a bit and made myself lunch before carrying on to Narcissus.

The second half of the day’s trek was wonderfully dry and flat. I had a ball frolicking in the tall trees, but my favorite part was towards the end when the trail opened up to sweeping views of the mountains over the valley. Crossing the swing bridge was pretty fun, too! This may be TMI, but my feet have never looked more disgusting than they did at the end of this day. After nearly 10 hours of trekking in damp boots, they were completely pruny and literally steaming when I took off my shoes and socks. SO GROSS.

Optional Side Treks:

D’Alton & Fergusson Falls (1 hour)

Hartnett Falls (1 hour)

Day 6: Narcissus to Cynthia Bay (17.5 km / 6-7 hours)

Day 6 wins the award for dullest day of the Overland Track. I now understand why most trekkers opt to take the ferry from Narcissus to Cynthia Bay rather than hike the 17.5 km – there isn’t much to see here. There’s the occasional view of Lake St. Clair, but aside from that – it’s just woods. It’d be fine on a day hike, but after 5 days of really awesome scenery it just seems a bit pointless.

View from Echo Point

On a more positive note, I’d finally woken up my hiking legs. That, coupled with a lighter pack, made it a fairly easygoing day on the trail. Had it not been for my heavily blistered feet and bruised hip, I might have enjoyed my final day on the Overland Track. Instead, it felt more like a slow-going race to the finish line. Toward the end, I had to break out my iPhone, put my cheesy playlist on speaker, and sing along just to get through the final stretch.

I swear, the path to the Visitor’s Centre dragged on for AGES. I limped the whole way there, then tore off my boots the second I reached the campsite, threw on flip flops, and ordered a double burger with fries and a flat white at the Lake St. Clair Lodge because I FINISHED!!

A Tasmania Parks Pass costs 30 AUD for hikers (valid for 8 weeks). If you already purchased a parks pass for your vehicle (like I did when I was roadtripping in Tasmania – it costs 60 AUD), you can just use this while you’re trekking.

Lindsay Buckley is the photographer and travel blogger behind Frugal Frolicker. She's a New Yorker currently based in Sydney, Australia, documenting outdoor travel experiences Down Under and beyond.
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I'm Lindsay! Not too long ago, I found myself on the Corporate American conveyor belt: an ivy league education, followed by massive student loan debt and an investment banking job in NYC. I didn't know what I wanted to do with my life, but I knew this wasn't it - so I decided to hit the reset button and moved to Australia at the end of 2014.

I now live in Bondi Beach in Sydney as a permanent resident of Australia, my soul country. I have slowly and intentionally created an incredible life for myself centered around FREEDOM and all the things that bring me joy. I blog about outdoor adventures in beautiful places around the world that don't cost a lot of money.
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